HIMSSCast: Nurses want AI to enhance patient interactions

Because we’re still in the early days of artificial intelligence transforming the patient care environment, it’s imperative to watch its impacts closely, says Oriana Beaudet, VP of nursing innovation at the American Nurses Association.

By Andrea Fox

When the American Nurses Association created its artificial intelligence positioning statement, it looked to protect the values and core obligations of the nursing profession, says Oriana Beaudet, DNP, RN, the association’s vice president of nursing innovation.

“Nurses must ensure that advanced technologies don’t compromise the nature of human interactions and relationships central to the nursing profession,” she said.

While there are many challenges and opportunities for implementing AI into nursing practices and workflows, the organization is focused on appropriate uses that support their interactions with the individual they care for – such as streamlining documentation with ambient listening and generative AI.

We spoke with Beaudet recently for a more detailed discussion about what nurses say they need for AI to be successful.

In a recent survey, they said they want tools to support clinical workflows, but they also want to be able to trust the accuracy of the AI and maintain interaction between humans. They also want to ensure data privacy, quality and safety.

Here’s what Beaudet said about nurse leadership in the AI space.

Talking points:

  • Activating nurses to innovate across healthcare.
  • Health inequities and awareness of data bias.
  • How ANA is embracing AI.
  • The ethical implications that have a lot of nurses pushing back.
  • The impact of AI on patient care and health systems.